The Flexible Thinking Study

This study is being conducted to better understand flexible thinking in autistic and non-autistic children and adolescents. We are interested in exploring the different ways that flexible thinking relates to cognitive and behavioral differences associated with autism. Specifically, we would like to explore relationships between both autistic and non-autistic youth’s cognitive inflexibility and areas of their day-to-day functioning, including social communication skills, cognitive ability, and mental health.

• Both autistic and non-autistic youth aged 6-17 years.
• Speaks English at least 50% of the time.
• Willing and able to participate in ~6-8 hours of testing (including an EEG) across multiple in-person testing appointments.

This study includes an IQ assessment, an autism assessment (ADOS-2), a behavioral assessment, a cognitive functioning assessment, an EEG, and self- and parent-report measures. This study will be completed over three, 3-4 hour visits to our lab located at the Center for Clinical Services at Montclair State University. Session flow adjustments may occur as needed, on a case-to-case basis.

Up to $50 for study participation. Research based outcome assessment reports will be written by the research team (upon request) and provided to parents, based on the administrations and scorings of the assessments for which there are research interpretations (e.g., ADOS-2, KBIT-2).

The proposed project will examine core behavioral and neural presentations associated with cognitive inflexibility (CI), or flexible thinking, in both ASD and TD youth. The current project is also aimed at validating specific neural indices associated with CI and better understanding links between neural indices and behavioral presentations of CI. This study will further examine relations of CI to core ASD symptoms (i.e., social communication deficits and RRBs), as well as co-occurring psychopathology that cause significant impairment. Aims of this study is consistent with the National Institute of Mental Health’s Strategic Plan of defining the brain mechanisms underlying complex behaviors. These findings from the project will also support the field’s goal to inform prevention and treatment interventions to inform personalized interventions that address specific outcomes.